Scottish Executive

Agriculture

Mr Duncan Hamilton (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what legal advice it has received on the compatability of section 6 of the Agricultural (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1968 and the Cattle Identification Regulations (SSI 1998/871), which confers on inspectors a power of entry to farms, with Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights.

Ross Finnie: The Scottish Executive is obliged to act in accordance with the European Convention on Human Rights. We are satisfied that the provisions concerned are compatible with ECHR.

Agriculture

George Lyon (Argyll and Bute) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide a breakdown of the payments made to farmers and crofters in Argyll & Bute under the 2001 Less Favoured Area (LFA) scheme detailing in particular, (a) the number of farmers receiving payments in Argyll and Bute constituency compared with last year, (b) the number of farmers who required a top-up from the safety net arrangement, detailing the maximum payment given under the safety net, the percentage of all farmers helped by the safety net and the average safety net payment as a percentage of the total payment, (c) the number of farmers who received a greater payment than last year, the average increase in payment and the biggest increase in payment and (d) the total amount paid in Argyll and Bute under the new LFA scheme in comparison to last year.

Ross Finnie: The information is not available. The vast majority of claims were paid, at least up to the level of the safety net, by the end of April. The priority now is to settle outstanding balances and claims. We will not be able to supply information on payments until this further work is completed.

Apprenticeships

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to encourage more females to take up modern apprenticeships.

Ms Wendy Alexander: The Scottish Executive is working with the Enterprise Network to target Modern Apprenticeships in non-traditional sectors, including hospitality, early years and childcare, IT and health and social care. Many of these sectors offer apprenticeship opportunities which are more attractive to women. The Executive is also working with the Manufacturing Image Group to encourage more women into manufacturing occupations.

Deafblind People

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what its definition of deafblindness is.

Malcolm Chisholm: The term "deafblind" is used by the Executive to describe children and adults with a combination of sight and hearing losses which can cause difficulties with communication, access to information and mobility.

Deafblind People

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment has been carried out on the number of children and adults who are deaf and blind for the latest year for which figures are available.

Malcolm Chisholm: These figures are not held centrally.

Deafblind People

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it takes to ensure that the services provided to deafblind people are appropriate and in formats and methods accessible to them.

Mrs Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to ensure that deafblind people have access to the services they require throughout Scotland.

Malcolm Chisholm: The Scottish Executive will this year check on the implementation by local authorities of its recommendations in its Sensing Progress report published in 1998. The recommendations are aimed at improving services for people who are deafblind or have a visual or hearing impairment.

Deafblind People

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what assessments are carried out into the needs of deafblind individuals and what qualifications a person carrying out any such assessment must possess.

Malcolm Chisholm: Assessments of need of deafblind people are led by specialist sensory impairment staff and must be done in partnership with the NHS. Local authorities largely contract specialist services for deafblind people from Deafblind Scotland and Sense Scotland, two national voluntary organisations dealing with sensory impairment.

  The Executive does not specify a minimum level of qualification for deafblind support staff. Local authorities recognise the specialist nature of the training required and work together with the above organisations to meet the needs of deafblind people.

Deafblind People

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it takes to ensure that deafblind people are able to access specifically trained one-to-one support workers when assessed as requiring such support.

Malcolm Chisholm: The employment of staff and commissioning of services is the responsibility of local authorities in partnership with the NHS. The Scottish Executive’s Sensing Progress report calls for better sensory impairment training for more staff. The Executive will this year check on the implementation of its recommendations which are aimed at improving services for people who are deafblind or have a visual or hearing impairment.

Disabled People

Mrs Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it has taken to ensure that its and other public bodies’ official websites and computer-based communication are fully accessible to people with disabilities.

Angus MacKay: Through its Information Age Government in Scotland draft common framework, the Executive promotes the delivery of services through multiple methods which are appropriate to the customers of those services, and which meet the needs of excluded groups.

  In addition, the Scottish Executive seeks to ensure that its website is accessible to all by subscribing to the general principles of best practice contained within the Guidelines for UK Government Websites published by the Office of the e-Envoy and to the Web Accessibility Initiative standards published by the World Wide Web Consortium. The "Web Accessibility Initiative" is endorsed by the Royal National Institute for the Blind and other major bodies representing people with disabilities.

Drug Misuse

Margaret Jamieson (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will produce a Scottish version of the document Communities Against Drugs published jointly by Her Majesty’s Treasury, the Home Office and the Cabinet Office.

Iain Gray: The Executive is announcing today a new Scottish Communities Against Drugs Fund. This will provide up to £500,000 to match funds raised by the Daily Record, for local communities to address the problems with drugs that they identify in their area. The Fund will be housed within Scotland Against Drugs. Detailed arrangements for applications will be published shortly.

  The Executive does not intend to produce a Scottish version of the Communities Against Drugs document. That already includes a section on the Executive’s drugs strategy.

Education

Mr Duncan Hamilton (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-14539 by Angus MacKay on 10 April 2001, what level of expenditure was incurred by each local authority to meet their local educational requirements in (a) 1999-2000 and (b) 2000-01 and what the estimated figures are for 2001-02.

Angus MacKay: Local authorities’ provisional outturn expenditure for 1999-2000 and budgeted expenditure for 2000-01 on education is contained in the table. The budget estimates for 2001-02 have still to be received from all councils.

  


Education 
  

1999-2000
(£000) 
  

2000-01
(£000) 
  



Aberdeen, City 
  

95,441 
  

97,261 
  



Aberdeenshire 
  

123,474 
  

127,214 
  



Angus 
  

54,008 
  

56,145 
  



Argyll & Bute 
  

51,071 
  

51,820 
  



Clackmannanshire 
  

26,531 
  

27,621 
  



Dumfries & Galloway 
  

76,738 
  

78,801 
  



Dundee 
  

73,601 
  

75,272 
  



East Ayrshire 
  

66,163 
  

67,185 
  



East Dunbartonshire 
  

60,239 
  

62,923 
  



East Lothian 
  

43,788 
  

46,059 
  



East Renfrewshire 
  

50,474 
  

52,262 
  



Edinburgh, City 
  

181,052 
  

185,904 
  



Eilean Siar 
  

26,076 
  

26,732 
  



Falkirk 
  

71,497 
  

73,427 
  



Fife 
  

179,984 
  

184,327 
  



Glasgow 
  

292,501 
  

302,085 
  



Highland 
  

123,935 
  

127,818 
  



Inverclyde 
  

47,725 
  

49,047 
  



Midlothian 
  

45,350 
  

46,895 
  



Moray 
  

46,422 
  

47,807 
  



North Ayrshire 
  

74,669 
  

77,760 
  



North Lanarkshire 
  

176,301 
  

184,633 
  



Orkney 
  

16,292 
  

17,017 
  



Perth & Kinross 
  

66,042 
  

66,431 
  



Renfrewshire 
  

94,164 
  

97,661 
  



Scottish Borders 
  

51,690 
  

54,585 
  



Shetland 
  

25,458 
  

26,636 
  



South Ayrshire 
  

56,053 
  

54,741 
  



South Lanarkshire 
  

155,983 
  

161,014 
  



Stirling 
  

44,800 
  

45,830 
  



West Dunbartonshire 
  

55,378 
  

57,022 
  



West Lothian 
  

84,987 
  

87,556 
  



Scotland 
  

2,637,887 
  

2,717,492 
  



  Notes:

  1. Figures are net revenue expenditure which is total expenditure met from council tax, non-domestic rates and government grants excluding loan charges.

  2. The figures are as reported by authorities in the annual Provisional Outturn & Budget Estimate (POBE) return to the Executive. Figures are Provisional Outturn for 1999-2000 and Budget Estimates for 2000-01.

Energy Conservation

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S10-2658 by Jackie Baillie on 7 December 2000, whether all local authorities have reported on progress towards their Home Energy Conservation Act 1995 targets and when it intends to publish a report on authorities’ progress in this area.

Jackie Baillie: The first progress reports have now been received from all local authorities and a report on them by the Scottish Executive will be published shortly.

Enterprise

Dennis Canavan (Falkirk West): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions the Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning has had with representatives of the Mayflower Corporation about the future of Alexander’s bus manufacturing plant in Falkirk.

Ms Wendy Alexander: I confirm that I have been in direct contact with the company and will continue to do so. Officials from Scottish Executive and the Scottish Enterprise Network are working closely with the company to offer assistance where necessary.

Enterprise

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many new business starts there were in each local enterprise company area in 1999-2000; how many were assisted by Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise and how many are still trading in each area.

Ms Wendy Alexander: This is an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise and I have asked the Chairmen to write to the member. A copy of their replies will be placed in the Parliament’s Reference Centre.

Exam Results

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many students in Scotland who achieved qualifications at HNC and HND level in the 2000 exam diet still await receipt of their certificates.

Mr Jack McConnell: Students undertaking HNC and HND courses are subject to continuous assessment. It is not therefore possible to give a figure for students achieving these qualifications "at the 2000 exam diet", as that term does not appropriately apply to HNC and HND candidates.

  An exercise to reconcile college and SQA data is nearing completion, following which outstanding certificates will be issued to candidates who have met the requirements for an award.

  Colleges will normally have been able to provide students with their results and with provisional confirmation of their award, if needed, for prospective employers and other educational institutions.

Ferry Services

Maureen Macmillan (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are being taken to secure the future of the Kirkwall–Invergordon ferry either under the present or a new operator.

Sarah Boyack: The present operator decided to withdraw from this freight shipping route with effect from 30 April. The Scottish Executive has recognised the contribution of the route for the export of livestock from Orkney. The Executive allocated £200,000 under the Tariff Rebate Subsidy (TRS) scheme during 2000-01 to assist the export of livestock on this route.

  The Executive confirmed in discussions with the operator and Orkney Islands Council that a TRS allocation continued to be available for 2001-02 for the company, or any alternative operator, at the same assistance rate of 50% of shipping costs. The Executive is liaising with the Islands Council and other operators on the issue of the future capacity available on this route or on alternative services.

Ferry Services

Mr Duncan Hamilton (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-14439 by Ms Wendy Alexander on 6 April 2001, who the members were of the steering group which specified the criteria for the selection of an operator for the proposed Rosyth-Europe ferry service; who specifically within Scottish Enterprise decided that it would not be appropriate to publish the criteria at this time, and whether it will give an undertaking to publish the criteria once the tendering process is completed.

Ms Wendy Alexander: As your question relates to operational matters which are the responsibility of Scottish Enterprise, I have asked the Chairman of Scottish Enterprise to respond. A copy of the reply will be placed in the Parliament’s Reference Centre.

Fisheries

Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what estimated level of haddock discards was expected in the North Sea and built into the quota negotiations for 2001, whether this figure took into account the seasonal closure of fishing grounds under the cod recovery plan and whether there are any plans to revise the predicted level of haddock discards.

Rhona Brankin: The International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) provided forecasts of landings and discards for a range of possible exploitation scenarios. At the exploitation rate corresponding to the agreed TAC, the annual estimated discard rate by weight in the human consumption fishery is 67% of the catch. These calculations did not anticipate the closure of any area as part of the cod recovery plan. Preliminary figures for the discard rate in the first quarter of 2001 estimated by Fisheries Research Services from observer samples are consistent with the ICES forecast.

  The state of the North Sea haddock stock will be evaluated by ICES in late June this year when revised estimates of discards 2001 will become available.

Fisheries

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made on the research into the importance of the Shetland Box, as announced by the Minister for Rural Development on 7 December 2000, and when this research is expected to be completed.

Rhona Brankin: The Executive has commissioned two reports into the importance of the Shetland Box – one to investigate the socio-economic effects of the box and the other to analyse the biological impact of the box. We anticipate that this work will be completed by mid-May.

Flood Prevention

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment has been made of any impact which non-dredging of the River Clyde will have on water levels along the course of the river in forthcoming years.

Rhona Brankin: The need for maintenance of water courses is a matter for the riparian land owners concerned: decisions on dredging of the River Clyde are not for the Scottish Executive. Commissioning of any specific assessments is also a matter for the riparian landowners involved: information on any assessments that may have been undertaken is not held by the Executive.

  However, local authorities have a duty to assess the state of watercourses in their area to ascertain whether they are likely to cause flooding of non-agricultural land and to publish reports on flooding and measures to prevent flooding.

Foot-and-Mouth Disease

Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any specific assistance is to be made available to tourist boards operating in the north-east of Scotland in response to the impact of the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak on tourism.

Mr Alasdair Morrison: All Area Tourist Boards will benefit from the additional funding for VisitScotland which we announced on 28 March.

Foot-and-Mouth Disease

Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any specific assistance is to be made available to help the tourist information office in Aberdeen and local tourist board in light of recent cut backs as well as the impact which the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak has had on local tourism.

Mr Alasdair Morrison: Decisions about the level of core funding for Aberdeen and Grampian Tourist Board are a matter for VisitScotland and the local authorities. As regards the foot and mouth outbreak, I refer Mr Lochhead to the answer I gave to question S1W-15123.

Foot-and-Mouth Disease

Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the total expenditure has been to date on implementation of the slaughter policy in respect of foot-and-mouth disease.

Ross Finnie: The total cost of the foot and mouth cull, taking into account manpower and other costs is not currently available. However to date, compensation costs have totalled approximately £120 million.

Foot-and-Mouth Disease

Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) cattle, (b) sheep and (c) pigs have been slaughtered to date under its policy in respect of foot-and-mouth disease.

Ross Finnie: These statistics appear in the regular Foot and Mouth Briefing Note which is available from the Parliament’s Reference Centre.

Foot-and-Mouth Disease

Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average cost is per animal slaughtered under its policy on foot-and-mouth disease, whether this includes the cost for restocking after the outbreak and, if so, what sum is allocated for restocking (a) a cow, (b) a pig and (c) a sheep.

Ross Finnie: The SERAD website (under Foot and Mouth Disease (Ascertainment of Value) (Scotland) (No 3) Order 2001) provides information on average costs per animal slaughtered. Costs for all categories of sheep, pigs and cattle are listed. Restocking costs are not included.

Foot-and-Mouth Disease

Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average rise in the price per kilo has been of (a) beef, (b) pork, (c) ham, (d) bacon and (e) lamb since the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak began.

Ross Finnie: The following table provides the average retail meat prices as published by the Meat and Livestock Commission. The averages cover all cuts of meat, for example, beef includes a number of cuts from fillet steak to mince.

  Average Retail Prices (pence per kg)

  


Week ending 
  

Beef (Scotland) 
  

Lamb (Scotland) 
  

Pork (Scotland) 
  

Bacon (G.B.) 
  



3/3/01 
  

912 
  

835 
  

469 
  

112 
  



10/3/01 
  

917 
  

860 
  

499 
  

NA 
  



17/3/01 
  

918 
  

866 
  

503 
  

NA 
  



24/3/01 
  

916 
  

850 
  

502 
  

126 
  



31/3/01 
  

913 
  

861 
  

502 
  

126 
  



7/4/01 
  

913 
  

857 
  

506 
  

123 
  



14/4//01 
  

915 
  

857 
  

508 
  

119 
  



21/4/01 
  

915 
  

838 
  

503 
  

119

Foot-and-Mouth Disease

Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures are being taken to prevent tenant farmers in the south of Scotland from going bankrupt.

Ross Finnie: We have taken steps to ease the cashflow problems of all farmers by paying the main livestock subsidies amounting to £146 million as early as possible in April and May. I have also announced the payment of £24 million of agrimonetary compensation to beef, sheep and dairy farmers during the same period. We are seeking the maximum flexibility possible under CAP rules to ensure that farmers do not lose out when they are unable to comply fully with scheme rules as a direct result of the foot and mouth outbreak.

  Farmers will be paid at market value or on the basis of a specific valuation for stock culled as part of the measures to control the outbreak and arrangements are in place to reimburse farmers for animals slaughtered for welfare reasons.

  We are also working with a wide range of agencies to ensure that farmers have ready access to information and advice on coping with practical, financial, business and emotional problems. To help with this process the Executive has set up a Farm Business Support Steering Group for the south of Scotland which comprises representatives from the Executive, Scottish Enterprise Dumfries and Galloway, the National Farmers’ Union of Scotland and the local farming community.

  Our primary aims are built around stopping the spread of the disease and restoring normal trading conditions as quickly as possible. A medium-term recovery strategy is also being prepared drawing on the longer-term Forward Strategy for Scottish Agriculture which I had intended to launch in early March this year before the start of the foot and mouth outbreak.

Foot-and-Mouth Disease

Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average cost per animal would be for (a) sheep, (b) cattle and (c) pigs of a vaccination programme in relation to foot-and-mouth disease.

Ross Finnie: The vaccination contingency plan was prepared only for cattle, and only for the three areas of Dumfries, North Cumbria and Devon. It is therefore not possible to give figures for sheep or pigs. The estimated cost of setting up and delivering a vaccination programme for cattle, including the cost of vaccine, is between £8 and £10 a head.

Foot-and-Mouth Disease

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many abattoir workers have been laid off as a result of the recent foot-and-mouth disease outbreak.

Ross Finnie: Abattoir employment tends to fluctuate in normal circumstances. I do not have figures of lay-off since the outbreak but my officials have asked the Scottish Meat Wholesalers Association for the information.

Foot-and-Mouth Disease

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to assess how many workers have been laid off as a result of the recent foot-and-mouth disease outbreak.

Ross Finnie: The Executive has established an Impact Assessment Group to identify the effect FMD is having across areas and sectors. The Employment Service is a member of the group and is providing regular information on employment issues arising as a consequence of FMD. In addition, the group has recently commissioned a survey to provide hard evidence of economic impacts, including employment effects, across all sectors and regions of Scotland.

Foot-and-Mouth Disease

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to assess how many workers have experienced a reduction in earnings as a result of the recent foot-and-mouth disease outbreak.

Ross Finnie: The answer to question S1W-15222 noted that the Executive has established an FMD Impact Assessment Group to study the economic impact of FMD across areas and sectors of Scotland. The group, through their existing information networks, has also received some anecdotal evidence of workers receiving reduced earnings. In addition, a survey recently commissioned by the group will help to illustrate measures taken by employers to minimise the impact on their businesses.

Foot-and-Mouth Disease

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to provide information, advice and financial support to workers laid off as a result of the recent foot-and-mouth disease outbreak.

Ms Wendy Alexander: Initial advice is being made available to any individual or business affected by the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak through the Small Business Gateway’s helplines. Training for Work eligibility has been relaxed, ensuring that all individuals made redundant as a result of this outbreak in Borders and Dumfries and Galloway have immediate access to this programme. Immediate entry to Training for Work has now been extended to workers temporarily laid off as a result of foot and mouth in Dumfries and Galloway and the Borders.

  The Department for Education and Employment has introduced a new service, Rural Skills Action, as an emergency response to the employment and training needs of those worst affected by the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak.

Foot-and-Mouth Disease

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to provide information, advice and financial support to workers who have experienced a reduction in earnings as a result of the recent foot-and-mouth disease outbreak.

Ms Wendy Alexander: There is additional support being made available to those businesses and individuals facing financial difficulties as a result of the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak. Initial advice is being made available to those affected through the Small Business Gateway’s helplines.

  The DSS/Benefits Agency have produced an information leaflet about the benefits system for those facing financial difficulties as a result of the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak, and are taking a sympathetic and flexible approach in dealing with applications from affected individuals.

Foot-and-Mouth Disease

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to provide compensation to those with grazing lets who have lost income directly due to the ban on movement of livestock to grazing pastures and, if so, how that compensation will be calculated and when it will be paid.

Ross Finnie: At present there is no provision to pay compensation for loss of income through grazings not being let on account of foot-and-mouth disease. This will be looked at when assessing the wider financial impact of foot and mouth.

Foot-and-Mouth Disease

Dr Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is considering any proposals relating to the preservation of pedigree and hefted sheep in areas affected by foot-and-mouth disease and whether it has had any discussions with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on this issue.

Ross Finnie: I refer to the Ministerial Statement I gave to Parliament on 26 April 2001 where policy on the position of rare breeds of sheep and hefted sheep was clarified.

Foot-and-Mouth Disease

Dr Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish a list of all premises which have been involved in (a) the cull of sheep within a 3km radius of a confirmed case of foot-and-mouth disease and (b) the cull of sheep due to a confirmed case of foot-and-mouth disease on contiguous premises, as of 24 April 2001.

Ross Finnie: Details of infected premises are published. I do not consider that there is any need to list other premises within 3km, nor to distinguish whether they have been involved in the 3km or the contiguous sheep culls.

Foot-and-Mouth Disease

Dr Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) sheep, (b) beef cattle, (c) dairy cattle, (d) pigs, (e) deer, (f) goats and (g) other species have been pre-emptively culled in Dumfries and Galloway as of 24 April 2001 as part of the eradication of foot-and-mouth disease.

Ross Finnie: As at 30 April 2001, the following number of animals have been culled: sheep -382,333; cattle - 21,776; pigs - 57; goats - 276; other - 1.

Foot-and-Mouth Disease

Dr Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the maximum period of time is which can elapse between a case of foot-and-mouth disease being confirmed and the information regarding the premises involved being made public.

Ross Finnie: Once a farm has been confirmed as having foot-and-mouth disease, details of the infected premises are included in the Scottish Executive Daily Press Release which is issued at 7pm.

Foot-and-Mouth Disease

Dr Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how premises contiguous to those in which foot-and-mouth disease has been identified are made aware of the situation and how long the process of informing contiguous premises should take.

Ross Finnie: The occupiers of contiguous premises are identified and advised by telephone as quickly as possible. There is no pre-determinable time for doing this. But the target set for culling stock on contiguous premises is 48 hours from the identification of the relevant infected premises.

Foot-and-Mouth Disease

Dr Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will establish any additional mass burning sites for carcases of pre-emptively culled livestock in Dumfries and Galloway.

Ross Finnie: In the current disease situation, there are no plans to operate mass burning sites. As a contingency against a significant change in the disease situation, we have identified possible locations for burning sites both in the east and west of the region, but we have not developed them.

Foot-and-Mouth Disease

Dr Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what mechanisms are used to communicate with residents in areas where the mass disposal of pre-emptively culled stock by burning or burial is planned.

Ross Finnie: The measures taken to communicate promptly with residents in the vicinity of disposal sites include a leaflet drop before any site becomes operational and where necessary more detailed information to those nearest the site. Discussions are held with local councillors, community councils and residents, as appropriate. Finally information is available through the FMD helpline operated by Dumfries and Galloway Council.

Foot-and-Mouth Disease

Dr Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions have taken place between the State Veterinary Service and seconded vets regarding the implementation in Scotland of the pre-emptive slaughter policy to control foot-and-mouth disease.

Ross Finnie: This and other aspects of the strategy for controlling and eradicating the disease have been discussed with veterinary surgeons who have been helping the State Veterinary Service.

Foot-and-Mouth Disease

Dr Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has sought advice from the Chief Medical Officer regarding any potential danger to public health caused by the mass disposal of pre-emptively culled stock by burning and burial.

Ross Finnie: The guidance issued by the Scottish Executive on 25 April, entitled Measures to Minimise Risk to Public Health from Slaughter and Disposal of Animals ,   addressed this issue and was drawn up in consultation with the Chief Medical Officer. A copy of the guidance is in the Parliament Reference centre.

Foot-and-Mouth Disease

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will investigate the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease reported in the Sunday Post on 22 April 2001 as having been caused by migrating geese and whether it will place the findings of any such investigation in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre.

Ross Finnie: Geese are not considered to be the source of foot-and-mouth disease spread. This is due to the birds natural behaviour. Geese have to keep themselves clean in order to migrate successfully and there is a high probability that most of the geese will not come into contact with susceptible livestock. Based on initial analysis and epidemiological information, it is estimated that around 90% of the cases of infection are attributable to local spread between premises caused by animal and people movements.

Forestry

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when the consultation document on the proposed Review of Woodland Grant Scheme/Farm Woodland Premium Scheme will be published and how long the consultation period will be.

Rhona Brankin: I am launching today a wide-ranging consultation paper on future support for forestry in Scotland. Interested organisations and individuals will have until 30 September 2001 to respond.

Gas

Brian Adam (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has made any representations to Her Majesty’s Government about the economic impact of the increase in the price of gas recently announced by Scottish Gas.

Ms Wendy Alexander: Discussions with the UK Government take place on a wide range of subjects including energy policy.

Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has for a review of primary care services following the Acute Services Review, the Review for Public Health Function, the Review of Nursing and Midwifery and the Scottish Health Plan.

Susan Deacon: The response to question S1W-14975 advised that there were no plans for a review of primary care services.

  We recognise that Local Health Care Co-operatives (LHCC) have a key role to play in the design and delivery of local primary care services. The LHCC Best Practice Group has been asked to make proposals for strengthening the influence of LHCCs in all aspects of service design, planning and delivery. This group has now completed its final report, and we shall announce shortly our proposals for the next steps in their development.

Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to introduce primary care commissioning as developed in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Susan Deacon: There are no plans to introduce primary care commissioning in Scotland. Our National Health has stated that services need to be designed and delivered as close to patients and communities as possible. LHCCs have a key role to play in this and we shall announce shortly our proposals for strengthening their role.

Housing

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the existing system of multiple surveys acts as a barrier to the adoption of energy audits for all house sales.

Jackie Baillie: The information about house condition that is available to individuals selling and buying houses is being considered by the Housing Improvement Task Force. The task force will consider whether there are barriers in the current arrangements to the provision of appropriate energy efficiency information.

Housing

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of any benefits which could result from the adoption of a system of energy audits for residential property transactions and, in particular, what contribution such a system could make to reducing carbon dioxide emissions over the next 10 years.

Jackie Baillie: No assessment has been made at this stage.

Housing

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will bring forward proposals to require energy audits of houses at point of sale.

Jackie Baillie: The Housing Improvement Task Force will consider the information provided to purchasers under the current arrangements and advise on whether changes to those arrangements to promote energy efficiency would be deliverable. The Scottish Executive will consider what legislative changes are necessary when the task force has completed its work.

NHS Funding

Mr Mike Rumbles (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what the per capita level of funding for each health board is for (a) 2001-02, (b) 2002-03 and (c) 2003-04.

Susan Deacon: Details are as follows:

  


Health Board 
  

Per Capita Funding 2001-02 (£) 
  

Per Capita Funding 2002-03 (£) 
  

Per Capita Funding 2003-04 (£) 
  



Argyll & Clyde 
  

1,004 
  

1,068 
  

1,143 
  



Ayrshire & Arran 
  

990 
  

1,060 
  

1,143 
  



Borders 
  

997 
  

1,060 
  

1,135 
  



Dumfries & Galloway 
  

1,045 
  

1,115 
  

1,199 
  



Fife 
  

917 
  

979 
  

1,053 
  



Forth Valley 
  

921 
  

981 
  

1,053 
  



Grampian 
  

870 
  

925 
  

991 
  



Greater Glasgow 
  

1,048 
  

1,121 
  

1,208 
  



Highland 
  

1,049 
  

1,123 
  

1,210 
  



Lanarkshire 
  

918 
  

980 
  

1,054 
  



Lothian 
  

885 
  

940 
  

1,007 
  



Orkney 
  

1,082 
  

1,150 
  

1,231 
  



Shetland 
  

1,098 
  

1,168 
  

1,251 
  



Tayside 
  

1,024 
  

1,089 
  

1,166 
  



Western Isles 
  

1,440 
  

1,541 
  

1,663 
  



  The level of per capita funding has been calculated using mid-year estimates of population at 30 June 1999, the unified budget and indicative Family Health Services allocations for 2001-02 and indicative unified budgets and indicative Family Health Services allocations for 2002-03 and 2003-04.

NHS Funding

Mr Mike Rumbles (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average per capita level of funding of health boards is for (a) 2001-02, (b) 2002-03 and (c) 2003-04.

Susan Deacon: The average per capita level of funding currently notified to health boards is £966 in 2001-02, £1,031 in 2002-03 and £1,107 in 2003-04.

  The level of per capita funding has been calculated using mid-year estimates of population at 30 June 1999, the currently notified unified budget and indicative Family Health Services allocations for 2001-02 and indicative unified budgets and indicative Family Health Services allocations for 2002-03 and 2003-04.

  The average per capita level of funding of health boards takes no account of the funding for the special health boards or centrally managed projects which cannot be identified as relating to any one health board.

NHS Waiting Lists

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive why the Common Services Agency’s Information and Statistics Division statistics on inpatient and outpatient waiting lists are collected monthly but published quarterly.

Susan Deacon: The Information and Statistics Division no longer collects monthly data on inpatient and day case waiting lists; validated data is collected and published quarterly. It is the Executive’s view that quarterly progress reporting on this issue is the appropriate frequency. Data on outpatient waiting times is taken from case level data collected throughout the year, making quarterly analysis and publication the most practical frequency.

Non-Departmental Public Bodies

Mr Mike Rumbles (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive which non-departmental public bodies for which it is responsible had (a) a budget overspend and (b) a budget underspend and what the respective figures were for (a) and (b) in the last year for which such information is available.

Angus MacKay: Detailed financial information relating to the expenditure of non-departmental public bodies is contained within the Annual Report and Accounts for individual bodies. A compilation of financial information can be found in the annual publication Public Bodies . Copies are available from the Cabinet Office website at www.cabinet-office.gov.uk/quango .

Police

Mr Mike Rumbles (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-6297 by Mr Jack McConnell on 4 October 2000, when it expects the review of the system used to allocate police funding in Scotland to conclude and whether a copy of the findings will be available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre.

Angus MacKay: An extensive analysis of police workloads is currently being completed. The results of the analysis will be considered by the representatives of the Scottish Executive, the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland and the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities and we expect the review to be completed later this year.

  The conclusions of the review will help to inform consideration of future local government finance settlements which will be subject to parliamentary approval.

Police

Gordon Jackson (Glasgow Govan) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many police officers from ethnic minority communities there currently are in each police force and what the latest figures are for the recruitment, retention and promotion of such officers.

Mr Jim Wallace: The information available for the last two years is given in the following tables:

  1999-2000

  


Force 
  

Recruitment 
  

Total Number of ethnic minority officers1


Proportion of officers from ethnic minority 
  community as a % of total police strength 
  

Ethnic minority officers as a % of total 
  population2


Promotion 
  


 
 
 
 
 

Constable 
  

Sergeant 
  

Inspector 
  



Central 
  

0 
  

2 
  

0.28% 
  

0.73% 
  

2 
  

0 
  

0 
  



Dumfries & Galloway 
  

1 
  

1 
  

0.21% 
  

0.36% 
  

1 
  

0 
  

0 
  



Fife 
  

1 
  

3 
  

0.35% 
  

0.74% 
  

3 
  

0 
  

0 
  



Grampian 
  

1 
  

4 
  

0.32% 
  

0.87% 
  

3 
  

0 
  

1 
  



Lothian & Borders 
  

5 
  

11 
  

0.41% 
  

1.48% 
  

10 
  

0 
  

1 
  



Northern 
  

0 
  

1 
  

0.15% 
  

0.52% 
  

1 
  

0 
  

0 
  



Strathclyde 
  

8 
  

45 
  

0.63% 
  

1.56% 
  

43 
  

2 
  

0 
  



Tayside 
  

0 
  

3 
  

0.26% 
  

1.16% 
  

3 
  

0 
  

0 
  



Scotland 
  

16 
  

70 
  

0.47% 
  

1.25% 
  

66 
  

2 
  

2 
  



  1998-99

  


Force 
  

Recruitment 
  

Total Number of ethnic minority officers1


Proportion of officers from ethnic minority 
  community as a % of total police strength 
  

Ethnic minority officers as a % of total 
  population2


Promotion 
  


 
 
 
 
 

Constable 
  

Sergeant 
  

Inspector 
  



Central 
  

0 
  

2 
  

0.28% 
  

0.73% 
  

2 
  

0 
  

0 
  



Dumfries & Galloway 
  

0 
  

0 
  

0.00% 
  

0.36% 
  

0 
  

0 
  

0 
  



Fife 
  

0 
  

2 
  

0.24% 
  

0.74% 
  

2 
  

0 
  

0 
  



Grampian 
  

1 
  

3 
  

0.24% 
  

0.87% 
  

2 
  

0 
  

1 
  



Lothian & Borders 
  

0 
  

6 
  

0.23% 
  

1.48% 
  

5 
  

1 
  

0 
  



Northern 
  

0 
  

1 
  

0.15% 
  

0.52% 
  

1 
  

0 
  

0 
  



Strathclyde 
  

2 
  

38 
  

0.54% 
  

1.56% 
  

37 
  

1 
  

0 
  



Tayside 
  

0 
  

3 
  

0.26% 
  

1.16% 
  

3 
  

0 
  

0 
  



Scotland 
  

3 
  

55 
  

0.37% 
  

1.25% 
  

52 
  

2 
  

1 
  



  Notes:

  1. The total number of ethnic minority officers includes the figure for recruits for that year.

  2. The proportion of ethnic minority communities in the total population is based on information from the 1991 census.

Public Appointments

Bruce Crawford (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what selection procedure is being used to appoint the Chairs of the new unified NHS Boards.

Susan Deacon: The procedure involves a number of stages beginning with advertising for the positions for which we are seeking candidates. The advertisement was brought to the attention of a large number of diverse organisations and individuals to encourage applications, including MSPs and MPs to whom I wrote in early March. Applications received in response are assessed against the criteria for the positions, following which individuals are invited for interview. The interview panels, chaired by the Head of the Scottish Executive Health Department, and including an Independent Assessor, will make recommendations for appointment to the Scottish Ministers. This procedure complies with the guidelines of the Commissioner for Public Appointments.

Scottish Executive Staff

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many of its staff are dedicated to working on (a) grant aid for businesses, (b) enterprise networks, (c) export promotion, (d) inward investment, (e) energy, (f) lifelong learning, (g) student support and (h) better regulation.

Angus MacKay: The Enterprise and Lifelong Learning Department consists of 309.4 permanent staff, some of whom will be working on these topics. The information requested is not held centrally, although the Scottish Executive Business Directory will provide a general picture of the work of the department.

Timber Industry

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the purpose was of seeking information on timber stock levels from timber merchants between November 2000 and February 2001.

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive which of the timber merchants asked to provide information on timber stock levels between November 2000 and February 2001 had never been asked to provide such information to it prior to November 2000.

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many timber merchants were contacted by it to provide information on stock levels of railway sleepers and other timber material between November 2000 and February 2001.

Ross Finnie: The Scottish Executive and the Forestry Commission, from time to time, may carry out surveys of timber merchants for a variety of reasons including timber marketing and contingency planning for ( inter alia ) foot-and-mouth disease. Marketing surveys may be carried out at a local level.

  No such contingency exercise was carried out during the period referred to. As far as can be ascertained, neither the Forestry Commission nor the Scottish Executive carried out any survey for marketing purposes during that period.

Tourism

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people were interviewed for the post of Chief Executive of VisitScotland.

Ms Wendy Alexander: Seven.

Tourism

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the parameters were for any negotiations on salary and terms and conditions of employment when considering applications for the post of Chief Executive of VisitScotland.

Ms Wendy Alexander: In considering these matters in consultation with my department, VisitScotland will have borne in mind the need to strike a balance between paying a market rate for the kind of ability and experience they were seeking to attract and other senior public sector salaries in Scotland.

Tourism

David McLetchie (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there was a concluded contract of employment between Mr Rod Lynch and VisitScotland prior to the announcement of his appointment as Chief Executive on 19 April 2001 and, if so, whether it will (a) publish the terms of any such contract, in particular, the estimated value of his remuneration package, (b) state whether any such contract has been terminated by mutual consent and whether any compensatory payment has been made to, or agreed with, Mr Lynch in respect of such a termination and, if so, what the value of this payment is and (c) explain why, if there was no concluded contract of employment, why the appointment was announced in advance of its finalisation.

Ms Wendy Alexander: The Executive’s understanding is that there was no concluded contract of employment. VisitScotland announced on 19 April a remuneration package of £145,000 per annum and a 20% performance bonus. Discussions between legal representatives are continuing. VisitScotland was keen to announce the appointment to end uncertainty and to enable the organisation to move forward. It is not unusual to announce public sector appointments before contracts are completed.

Tourism

David McLetchie (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what fee was payable to Heidrick and Struggles in respect of the recruitment of Mr Rod Lynch as Chief Executive of VisitScotland and whether, in view of the termination of that appointment, any abatement will apply and, if so, to what extent.

Ms Wendy Alexander: This is an operational matter for VisitScotland.

Tourism

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether an official from the Executive sat in during the interviews or was a member of the selection panel which interviewed candidates for the position of Chief Executive of VisitScotland; if so, what grade that official was and how many interviews he or she attended.

Ms Wendy Alexander: Yes. The official is a Head of Group and attended interviews with all seven candidates.

Tourism

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when Peter McKinlay is due to stand down as interim Chief Executive of VisitScotland.

Ms Wendy Alexander: This is an operational matter for VisitScotland.

Tourism

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will meet directly, in whole or in part, any legal costs and damages or compensation which VisitScotland has to pay in relation to Rod Lynch’s appointment or whether any additional funding will be given to VisitScotland in respect of any such costs.

Ms Wendy Alexander: Discussions between legal representatives are under way. The Executive will consider its response to the outcome of those discussions in due course.

Tourism

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will name the members of the selection panel used by VisitScotland to appoint a Chief Executive, whether Mr Donal Dowds was a member and whether his views were sought at any time before the offer of employment was made to Rod Lynch.

Ms Wendy Alexander: The members of the selection panel were Lord Gordon of Strathblane, Mr Peter Lederer and Mr Mike Foulis. Mr Michael Cantlay joined the panel after 28 February when Lord Gordon’s period of appointment as Chair of VisitScotland came to an end. Communications between board members is a matter for VisitScotland.

Tourism

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to carry out an immediate review of VisitScotland and its Board.

Ms Wendy Alexander: No. An independent management review of VisitScotland was recently completed and the priority now is to make further progress with its implementation. The Board of VisitScotland has assured the Executive that the lessons of the appointment exercise will be learned.

Tourism

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the timescale will be for the recruitment of a new chief executive of VisitScotland.

Ms Wendy Alexander: This is an operational matter for VisitScotland, but they announced on 27 April that they were renewing the search as a matter of urgency, and on 3 May that further interviews would be held in May.

Tourism

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when Peter McKinlay is due to stand down as interim Chief Executive of VisitScotland and, if he is due to stand down in the near future, whether his appointment will be extended and, if so, until when and, if not, who will replace him as interim chief executive.

Ms Wendy Alexander: This is an operational matter for VisitScotland, but they announced on 27 April that Mr McKinlay had agreed to stay on as interim Chief Executive.

Tourism

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the salary is of the interim chief executive of VisitScotland, whether his contract is on a full-time basis and what arrangements have been agreed regarding any other working commitments he has.

Ms Wendy Alexander: Peter McKinlay was appointed by VisitScotland on a full-time basis. His appointment was approved by the Executive. His salary is £8,000 per month.

Tourism

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in implementing the independent management consultant’s report commissioned by the Scottish Tourist Board from PricewaterhouseCoopers and whether implementation will be postponed pending the appointment of a new chief executive of VisitScotland.

Ms Wendy Alexander: I refer Mr MacAskill to the answer I gave to question S1W-13458. VisitScotland are implementing the findings during the search for a new Chief Executive.

Waste Management

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will detail the functions and responsibilities of all those involved in waste minimisation.

Rhona Brankin: Details of all those involved in waste minimisation are not held centrally. There are many waste minimisation initiatives in Scotland organised by a variety of groups including local authorities, local enterprise companies, universities, water authorities, private enterprise, non-departmental public bodies, chambers of commerce and the voluntary sector.

  The UK has a responsibility under the EC Waste Framework Directive to encourage the minimisation of waste. This is incorporated into Scottish law by the Environment Act 1995 which requires the national waste strategy to state policies for attaining the objective of "encouraging the prevention or reduction of waste production and its harmfulness". The National Waste Strategy: Scotland (NWS), prepared by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), is the means by which this is being taken forward in Scotland.

  In 1998 SEPA established its Waste Minimisation Initiative. One of its main aims is to provide a co-ordination role for waste minimisation activities in Scotland and link into waste minimisation programmes and activities elsewhere. SEPA maintains a website (www.sepa.org.uk/wastemin) which lists the waste minimisation projects and clubs in Scotland, outlines their objectives and membership and provides contact names and addresses.

  A component of the NWS is the development of 11 Area Waste Plans. These plans which are currently being developed by SEPA in collaboration with local authorities, local enterprise companies, the waste management industry and community waste groups, will include proposals for waste minimisation.

  The Waste Minimisation Act (1998) enables local authorities to take steps to minimise the generation of controlled waste in their areas.

  Under the Pollution Prevention and Control (Scotland) Regulations 2000, SEPA is required to ensure that waste production by certain industries is prevented or reduced.

Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body

Partner Libraries

Mr Duncan Hamilton (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Presiding Officer whether the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body has any plans to establish another partner library in Argyll and Bute to take account of the overall size of the constituency and the number of islands in the area.

Sir David Steel: The Parliament is keen to grant Partner Library status to additional public libraries if there is sufficient demand, or where geographic and other factors mean that the public are effectively excluded from access to parliamentary information. Staff in SPICe have discussed with the Library and Information Service in Argyll and Bute the possibility of adding a second Partner Library there, and as a result we are pleased to announce that Oban Library has been designated as the Parliament’s latest Partner Library.

Scottish Parliament Website

Mrs Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Presiding Officer what steps the Scottish Parliament Corporate Body has taken to ensure that the Parliament’s website and all its computer based communication is fully accessible to people with disabilities

Sir David Steel: An accessibility audit of the website was commissioned from the Digital Media Access Group at the University of Dundee in January of this year. The audit applied the international standards as formulated by the World Wide Web Consortium’s Web Accessibility Initiative. One of the aims of these standards is to improve access for people with disabilities.

  The results of this audit are informing website developments. The new design is being developed in consultation with the SPCB and will be launched when it is finalised and approved.